Owner Industrial Planning Associates, L.P. has submitted a petition to annex land to the City of Billings under Section 7-2-4600, MCA. The subject property is composed of two parcels totaling about 93 acres. The property is described as Tract 1, C/S 2587 and Tract 1, C/S 3329. It is located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Hesper Road and Gabel Road. The property is vacant but has been used for agricultural production in the past. The property owner is requesting annexation in order to obtain City services for development of the property for a trucking facility. Since the property would default to Residential-9600 (R-96) zoning if it is brought into the City, a concurrent zone change application is being processed to change the zoning from Agricultural Open Space to Controlled Industrial for the proposed commercial use.  The property is located within the five-year annexation area of the City's Limits of Annexation Map and appears to meet many of the City's criteria in its Annexation Policy. A detailed review and analysis of the Annexation Policy criteria will be provided in the Council's public hearing memo. The City Council’s policy is to consider annexations at two separate Council meetings. At the first meeting, the Council acknowledges receipt of a petition and sets a public hearing date. At the second meeting, the Council conducts the hearing and decides if it will annex the property. The zoning and annexation hearings will occur at the same City Council meeting on February 25.

Section 7-2-4600, MCA, allows owners of more than 50% of the property to petition the City for annexation. The only alternative that is consistent with City Council policy is to acknowledge receipt of the petition and set a public hearing date.

Analysis by City staff of how City services may be provided to this property, the potential financial implications of developing the property, and a recommendation on the annexation will be prepared and presented at the public hearing.

Staff recommends that the City Council acknowledge receipt of the annexation petition and schedule a public hearing for February 25, 2013 to consider annexing this property.